Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1887-03-03
THE NEW PARTY.

CrxcIxSATI, Feb. 24-The chair called
the Industrial Conference to order at ten
O'Clock yesterday morning The Commit
tee on Credentials made final report
Mr. Eaton, of Illinois, by unanimous con-
sent, offered scheme for the organization
of the new party, outlining the plan for
local club organization and accompanied It
with explanations
Mrs Elizabeth Culbertson, of Michigan,
and Mrs. Z. v. Emery, also OF Michigan
m de addresses.
At the evening session Chairman Robert
Schilling, of the Committee on Resolutions,
presented the report of that committee He
explained the long delay in preparing 1T by
saying that the many interests involved%lnd
the many suggestions made, amounting to
more than 200 in all. necessitated much time
in agreeing upon platform Following is
the platform:
First-The delegates OF various industrial and
reform political organizations have assembled
from thirty-one States and Territories on this
anniversary OF the birth of the father of his
country to view the situation of public affairs
and advise proper action A general discontent
prevails on the part OF the wealth producers
Farmers are suffering from poverty which has
forced most OF them to mortgage their estates
and prices of products are so low as 10 oner no
relief except through bankruptcy Laborers
are sinking into greaterNand greater dependence.
Strikes are resorted 10 without bringing relief
because of the inability of employers in many
are driven into the streets. Business men find
collections almost impossible; meantime hun
dreds of millions OF idle public money which is
needed for relief is locked upoin the United
States Treasury in grim mockery of the dis
tress; land monopoly dourishes as never before,
and more and more owners OF the soil are daily
becoming tenants.
Great transportation corporations still sue
coed in extorting their profits upon watered
stock through unjust charges. The United
States Senate has become an open scandal, the
seats being purchased by the rich III open def
ance of the popular will A trifing dispute is
seized upon as an excuse for squandering public
money upon unnecessary military preparations
which are designed TO breed a spirit OF war to-
ape European despotism and'to empty the treas
ury without paying the public debt
Under these and other alarming conditions we
appeal to the people of the whole country to
come out OF old party organizations whose indif-
ference TO the public welfare is responsible for
this distress and help us organize new politi-
cal party, not sectional, but national, whose
members shall be called commoners; whose OBJ
iect shall be to repeal all class laws in favor of
the rich and relieve the distress Of our indus
tries by establishing the following:
Every human being possesses natural, in
alienable right to sufficient land for selfsupport
and we desire to secure to every industrious
citizen a home, the result offree INSTITUTIONS
To this end we demand graduated land tax on
all large Estates especially those held for spec
ulative purposes; the reclamation of all I'M
claimed land grants; the immediate opening OF
Oklahoma to homestead settlement; the pur-
chase of all unoccupied Indian lands. and the
settlement of various tribes upon lands in sever
atty; also laws preventing corporations from
acquiring real estate beyond the requirements
of their business. and alien ownership OF land
The systems of irrigation in States and Territor-
les, where necessary, shall be under such public
control as shall secure the free and equitable
use of the waters and franchises to the people
The means of communication and transporta-
ton should be owned and controlled by the
people. as is the United States postal system
and equitable rates everywhere established.
The establishment of a national monetary
system in the interest OF the producer instead
of the Spectator and usurper. by which a
circulating medium in necessary quantity and
full legal tender shall be issued directly TO the
people, without the intervention of banks. or
loaned to the people upon ample security at
a low rate of interest TO relieve them from the
extortion of Insurers and enable them 70 con-
troll the money supply Postal savings banks
should be established. We have free coinage
of gold: we should have free coinage OF silver.
We demand the prompt payment of the national
debt and condemn the further issue of interest,
bearing bonds, either by the National Govern
ment by States, Territories, counties and
municipalities.
Arbitration should take the place of strikes
and other injurious methods of settling labor
disputes the letting of convict labor 10 con-
tractors should be prohibited; the contract sys-
tenn be aboli shed in public works; the hours OF
labor in industrial establishments be reduced
commensurate WIN the increase OF
in labor-saVing machinery; employees protected
from bodily INJURY; equal pay being given for
equal work for both sexes, and labor and agrfcul-
tural cooperative associations be fostered and
Incorporated by law. The foundation Of re-
public is the Intelligence of its citizens, and
children who are driven into workshops, mines
and factories are deprived OF education which
should be secured TO all by proper legislation.
We desire TO labor organization extend
throughout all civilized countries until it shall
be impossible for despots TO array the working
men OF one country in war against their brothers
of another country.
In appreciation of the services of the United
State soldiers and sailors, we demand for them
justice before charity. The purposely depre-
ciated money paid them during the war should
be made equal in value to the gold paid the
bondholders. The soldier was promised coin or
its equivalent, and paid in deprecated paper.
TIE bondholder loaned the Government depre-
ciated paper and contracted 10 take it back, but
was paid in gold.
A graduated income tax is the most equitable
system OF taxation, placing the burden on those
who can best afford TO pay, instead of laying it
on farmers and producers and exempting mill
ionaire bondholders and corporations.
The capture of the United States Senate by
millionaires and tools OF corporations, who have
no sympathy with free institutions, threatens
the very existence of the republic. We demand
4 constitutional amendment making United
States Senators elective by direct vote OF the
people.
State and national laws should be passed as
shall efectually exclude from America the Mon
golian slave and Asiatic competition.
The employment of bodies of armed men by
private corporations should be prohibited.
The right TO vote is inherent to citizenship,
irrespective OF sex.
Excessive wealth. resulting in luxury and
idleness one hand and excessive toll and
poverty the other, lead to intemperance
and vice. The measures OF reform here recon-
mended will prove 10 be the scientific solution
OF the temperance question
rtxa4ef .rN<a Tor
the suffrage amendment, declaring 1.-THE
right to vote is inherent to citizenship SIRE
spectlve of sex" The substitute was
adopted by three-fourths vote The only
other section giving rise to extended debate
was the temperance plank. After various